LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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i^ap.l:::'- - ©xijiijrJg^ ^u. 

Shelf ..RE- 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



r 



THREE SINGERS 

BY 

/ 

TKa^ Mahy Earle Hahdy. 






CHICAGO: 

Press of A. Chapman, Printer and Publisher. 

i8q4. 



f^ 






Entered according to Act of Congress:, in the year i8q4 by 

MART EARLE HARDT, 
in the office of the Librarian of Congress^ at Washington. 



"Originally tliere ^rere tliree muses -worshiped on 

Mount Helicon, namely: 
Melete (Meditation), 

Mneme (Memory) 

and Aoide (Son^)." 



CONTENTS. 

MELETE. 

A June Idyl 47 

Asleep 15 

A Vision of the Thorns 52 

A Winter Parable > 49 

Broken 17 

Death of Mary of Bethany 19 

Eagle Wings 45 

Elim 35 

Hearts Most Pure and Simple 27 

In Raiment of Needlework 51 

Legend of the Moss Rose 13 

Miserere and Te Deum 22 

Monadnoc 43 

Morte" 40 

Not Failure 20 

Of Christ in Galilee 11 

Rhigi 18 

Ruined Cities of Mexico 28 

The Cedar and the Pine 30 

The Glory of the Sky 15 

The House 38 

The Lesson 36 

The Path Across the Stream 50 

The Poet's Mantle 21 

The Valley and the Mountain Pass 53 

To an Egyptian Lily 33 

To the Crocus 29 



CONTENTS — MNEME. 

To the Sea 41 

To the Seer 10 

Velvet and Lace 32 

What of the Night? 40 

Wherefore ? 12 

With Two World's Wealth 37 

Y'ggdrasil 25 



MITEME. 

Annie Lee 63 

Childhood's Treasure 68 

' Eaglets Have Been Reared in Such " 78 

Gull Lake 61 

Memorial Day 70 

Morning on Berkshire Hills 73 

My Old-Time Love and 1 76 

Rockford 81 

The Casket 57 

The Child and the Lilies 65 

The " Forget-Me-Not " 75 

The Gypsey Child 60 

The Pilgrim's Staff 71 

The Shepherd - 79 

The Tomb 74 

The Tress of Hair 69 

The Willow and the Rose 58 

Ulalie 72 

'Where Memory's Embers Lay 56 

WiW Roses 67 



AOIDE. 

A Song 85 

A Spring Carmen 89 

' Behold a Sower Went Forth to Sow " 104 

Calendulas 107 

Enchanted Ground 98 

In the Pines 84 

Jewels 112 

King Frost's Wooing of the Rose 102 

Lady Claude 106 

Legend of Abraham and His Guest 92 

Marshes 97 

Odin 86 

Robins 94 

Roy and the Fairies - 108 

Sweet-Fern 113 

The Breeze — A Lover 91 

The Golden Fleece 91 

The Poet 110 

The Task 90 

' Who Would Not Be Endymion 85 

Wild Strawberries 87 



LICHENS FROM LIFE'S LEDGES. 

Art 136 

Flower of the Night-Blooming Cereus 118 

'For Me Alone," 123 

In Memoriam 125 



CONTENTS — LICHENS FROM LIFE'S LEDGES. 

'In the Desert Till the Day of His Showing Unto Israel," 121 

Justice 125 

Leaves 124 

Lichens 116 

'Lol I Am Day," 123 

Morning 124 

Myself 121 

Natalia 127 

Nature's Song and Story 122 

Olive Leaves 117 

'One Lieth Dead," 120 

Opals 125 

Osmunda Regalis 126 

Seeking the Brook , 118 

Summer Lying Dead 122 

The Beck 126 

The Bluebird 120 

The Brook 119 

The Carven Lilies 124 

The Dying Day 123 

'The One Who Builds the Poorest," 122 

The Queen, V. R 120 

The Shrine 118 

The Statue 117 

The Wraith of the River 118 

Thy Lilies 127 

'Unto the Mountains of Nebo to the Top of Pisgah," 119 



MELETE. 

In the Border-Land of Dreams. 



Wliat \vaters sin^ and sunsets teach., 

Write tliou in tliy scroll. 
Tlie v/orld but sees tlie form of tilings; 

Tliou slialt see tlieir soul. 



COf ®hri«i in &alHee* 

Wliat if an olive leaf blew down 
And touclied His face == His liand — 

And otlier leaves in liappy wliirl 
Made cool th.e beaten sand, 
Piled soft tlie rooky strand ; 

olive leaves so frail and ^ray ! 

1 love you for your deed tbat day. 

Wh-at if fair Huleli lilies bent 

Tlieir urns of spicery 
To anoint His feet, in lioma^e meet, 
Tliat tliey sliould mentioned be 
In His sweet sermonry; 

lilies! sv^eeter evermore 

Are all, for tliis tbe love ye bore. 

Wliat if tbe winds from Lebanon 

Ble^w" down to Hazareth., 
Just for tlieir lon^in^ but to touch. 
His temples' clustering v^reath. 
With, sweetly cooling breath; 

winds ! but touch our eyelids dim 
With healing that ye caught from Him. 



WHEREFORE? 

Wliat if the tides of Galilee 

Were dra^vn about His feet, 
Gave all tlie •wliite=bowed "waves assent 
To His coramandments S'weet, 
And ceased tlieir an^ry beat; 
O Vvrind=s^vept sea of Galilee! 
My Master's footsteps liallo-wed th.ee. 

"What if the "weary multitudes, 

Like Vv^aves of Galilee, 
Were drav;rn about His sinless feet 
And knew sweet ministry, 
Grew calm like restful sea; 

Christ! ^ive Thou such peace to me 
As once to storm=tossed Galilee. 



Far amid the crested mountains 

There are caverns dark and deep. 
Where a beauty speech transcending, 

Has for aeons lain asleep; 
Never mortal foot has sullied 

Stainless parapets of snow 
Han^in^ o'er the unentered portals 

Where these jeweled altars glow. 



LEGEND OF THE MOSS ROSE. 13 

Wlierefore -were such, temples builded 

Far from any rtiortal ken? 
Are tliere eyes tliat read these gospels 

Other than the eyes of men? 
*Tis as if the ^rand old Cosmos, 

Tho' she ^vork in hidden spot, 
Has a Truth that she must utter 

Whether men shall know or not. 



Pleasant is the legend olden 

Of the moss=rose = veiled flower ==' 

Prized above our lilies golden. 

Peer and queen in Flora's bovver. 

Once, 'tis said, the Saviour, -weary, 

"While His feet the hot sands pressed, 

Wandered thro' a desert dreary 
Finding neither joy nor rest; 

Cruel thorns His tired feet wounded 

'Till their blood=stains marked the sand, 

Satan's host His soul surrounded 
Tempting Him. on every hand. 



LEGEND OF THE MOSS ROSE. 

Yet He fell not = He the sinless — 
And th.e pov/ers of darkness fled, 

Tlien came Heaven's approving -witness, 
And His soul -was comforted. 

Straight His torn feet press s^veet mosses 
Wliere but burning sands liad lain, 

Soft tbey ^vipe "with. de^\ry tresses 
From each cruel -wound the stain. 

Breathed He then a blessing holy 
O'er the mosses cool and sweet, 

Spreading in their -v^'-orship lowly 
Dewy velvet for His feet; 

Scarcely had the v^ords been spoken 
When the moss-tuft burst apart 

And there sprang as Heaven's token 
Stainless roses from its heart. 

Ne'er before had ^ro^vn such f louver 

E'en in Sharon's valley fair, 
Ne'er a blossom held as dovrer 

Fragrance so above compare : 

Mossy=veiled and de-w=besprinkled, 
Fit for angel's garment hem. 

Pure as stars that whitely trwinkled, 
Hun^ each rose, a diadem. 



®he mi0vyi of th« ^it». 

Where -were the glorious colors born, 
The jasper, sapphire, emerald, ^old, 
Chalcedony in shining fold, 

That garnished all the sky at morn? 

The sardius, beryl, chrysolite, 

The topaz, jacinth, amethyst. 

That burned beyond the \\rreathin^ miist 
And glorified the sky at ni^ht? 

"Were they pure streams of li^ht that fell 
From fair foundations je^^el=set 
Alon^ the jasper parapet 

That guards the heavenly citadel? 



^Meep* 



Little baby lies asleep 
In a dream of ^lory ; 
By the li^ht upon her face. 
By the smile that I can trace, 
Half I ^uess the story 
That the angels tell 
To my baby Belle. 



ASLEEP. 

"Wide they ope tlie pearly ^ates, 
Letting lieaven's splendor 
Float adown before lier eyes, -=• 
Half a memory, lialf surprise = 
Wh-ile "with, voices tender, 
New delights they tell 
To my baby Belle. 

And they brin^ her for her mates 
Cherub children holy, 
While an an^el fair and tall. 
Purest, s^weetest one of all, 
Kisses, bending lowly, 

BroAV, like pearl and shell. 
Of my baby Belle; 

Whispers that the angels ^vait 
Close beside her ever; 
That her place is kept above 
By the One -whose name is Love, 
Who for^etteth never. 
But delights to dv^ell 
With my baby Belle ; 

Tells her hov/ her gardens fair 
Grow each morning fairer; 
And the cherub children brin^ 
Palms and lilies blossoming, 
But of treasures rarer. 
Tenderly they tell 
To my baby Belle; 



BROKEN. 

Tell h.er of tlie crown that ^^raits 
Je^vels for its setting, 
Of a Avondrous liarp of ^old 
That her hands shall one day hold, 
Weariness for^ettin^: 

This, and more they tell 
To my baby Belle. 

Little baby fast asleep 
In a dream of ^lory, 
By the golden li^ht that slips 
Over bro^v and cheek and lips, 
Do I ^uess the story 
That the angels tell 
To my baby Belle? 



^troltijjt. 



The cup lies broken, 

Spilled the -wine. 
The cup ^vas earthen, 

The wine divine! 
The cup lies broken. 

But ere the wine 
To earth has fallen, 

A hand divine 
In richer chalice 

Holds the wine. 



Fair at even Rlii^i stood, 
Pure as purest Avortianliood ; 
Wearing on uplifted brow- 
Calm of saint with, lioly vow. 

In tlie dawning 's silver mist, 
'Neath, a sky of amethyst 
Touched -with shades of opaline, 
Rhi^i stands a mount divine. 

SloAvly rides the sun on hi^h, 
Royal bridegroom of the sky! 
Pauses at the morning's ^ate, 
Lets his steeds of ^lory v^ait 

That he may behold the ^race 
Of Mount Rhi^i's saintly face; 
Scarce w^e breathe for joy of heart 
"While in aw^e we stand apart, 

Knowing that the one w^ho w^aits 
At the ^lo^vin^ eastern ^ates, 
Shall v/ith liis divine caress 
Crown her silent saintliness : =— 



DEATH OF MART OF BETHANT. IQ 

O'er her brow a flush, is spread, 
Han^in^ mists their je\vels shed, 
On a cloud her -v^hite feet bide, 
Stands Mount Rhi^i glorified! 



^aaih of ^ctrij of ^etijttwy* 

In the early da^wn of morning 
Ere the silver stars have set, 

Angels set their "win^s of ^lory 
O'er the Mount of Olivet; 

There one lieth by a casement, 
Looking upv/ard to the skies. 

Faith and love alike are blinded 
In the s^veetness of her eyes ; 

At her side a sister standeth 

Bent on holy ministries. 
At her feet a brother kneeleth 

Who hath known death's mysteries. 

Patient \vaitin^, joyous hopin6 
Flush a^ain the pallid cheek, 

While her sweet eyes searching heaven 
For one vision only seek; 



NOT FAILURE. 

Straight beyond tlie blessed angels 
Sees sh.e face benignly s^^eet, 

From ber ^lad lips springs '' RabbonU' 
And ber soul is at His feet. 



^ot Sailnve, 



Despised, misjudged, alveary, 
In tbe lists of life one fell, 
ITo bope bad be of winning 
Good from tbe band of ill. 

Witb. many ^vounds and deadly 
Prayed he for deatb==tbe s^weet^ 

No more tbe ^atbered foemen 
"Witb broken lance to meet. 

Lo, stood an an^el by bim 
Witb cup of beavenly \\rine, 

But sweeter tban tbe goblet 
Tbe word be spake, divine: 

Bade He wbo called to conflict 
Tbat tbou sbouldst victory see, 

Or spake He but 'Be faithful, 
The rest abides with Me ! ' " 



L 

A poet died. == His mantle fell 

On wlioni ? = Tlie ^vorld it coiald not tell. 

//. 
A day forgot, in lowly cot, 
A cliild \^^as born = tlie v^orld knew- not. 

///. 
He ^rew as ^rows tlie fa^vn and fern 
A cliild of mountain, Avood and dearn ; 

IV. 

He learned tlieir lessons in tlie li^lit 
And slept upon tlieir breasts at ni^lit : 

V. 
He sliunned th.e crowding, jostling mart, 
Its cries and cavils liurt h.is lieart. 

VL 

His tliou^lits unto tlie past "would turn, 

Communed vdtli propliets s'weet and stern ; 

v/i. 
His eyes unto tlie future rose, 

He saw tlie clouds a flame disclose ; 

V/Il. 

He read tlie propliet's message ri^lit, 

He felt tlie fiery gospel's mi^lit. =— 

ix. 
Was tliis tlie cliild = I can not tell==" 

On wliom tlie poet's mantle fell? 



'Weary, weary!" cried my spirit, sick of change 

and dark'nin^ pall ; 
Deeming death, but dismal gateway th.ro' an 

adamantine \vall. 
Blindly ^ropin^, validly hoping still to find some 

rest on earth, 
I had sought the balm, of healing in the gayest 

halls of miitih ; 
But the blessing, like a phantom, glided far 

beyond my reach, 
And the spirits of the revel smote me with their 

mocking speech. 

SPIRITS OF THE REVEL. 

"Turn a^vay thou sorro^v=laden 

Where no lights of pleasure shine 
Lsst thy paling tears shall mingle 
With the purple of our "wine, 

* * Lest the shadoM^s which are shaken 
From thy spirits' inner deep 
Fall upon our crested gardens 
Where our careless hearts-ease sleep ; 

"We have met for son^ and revel. 
Why has sorrow entered here? 
Hast thou thought in weeds and vrillows 
2 E'er to taste our banquet's cheer? 



MISERERE AND TE DEUM. 23 

" See tliis bo"wl ■with, leaves encircled, 
Gbblet meet for ^ods to liold ! 
Taste tlie draught ^vltliin = nepentlie 
Potent as in days of old 1 

"Flin^ away tlie yew and ^villow, 

Toss tlie dark=bou^lied cypress by 
In tbe son^ tbat floats around tbee 
Heed no spirit's smotliered cry; 

"Bind tby brow with, brightest berries, 
Grasp the tulip = lipped Avith fire = 
Let the tongues of flame upon it 
Quell thy spirit's wild desire ; 

**In the spell that falls upon thee 
Dream of neither lost nor dead. 
On the bread and "wine of pleasure 
Let thy famished soul be fed. 

"When the thorny cro\\An of sorrow 

Thou hast changed for iris -wreath, 
We w^ill lau^h and sin^ together 

Far from bli^htin^ pain and death." 

Scarcely were these wild notes ended than low 

chant my spirit heard 
Thrilling with its -wondrous cadence, more than 

son^ from throat of bird ; 



t4. MISERERE AND TE DEUM. 

Notes of pity, deep and lioly, till my spirit bowed 

in prayer; 
Tlien a "Glory! ^lory ! ^lory ! " ran^ triumphant 

th.ro' the air ; 
And as in a dim cathedral when the organ's note 

is dead, 
Music lingers, softly trembling, like a spirit that 

has fled, 
So these notes of seraphs' hymning, floating down 

the arching sky 
Are repeated in the chambers of my soul eter= 

nally. 

SERAPH VOICES. 

"One there is \^rhom angels -worship! 
Lo, His heart is pierced for thee; 
And thy thorny crown of sorrow- 
First upon His broAV did be ! 

"Waiting once where tomb encircled 
Life and Death together slept, 
Voices said, ' Behold He loved ! ' 

Others ansvs;^ered, ' Lo, He wept I ' 

"An^el -win^s in -worship holy, 

Can not hide from Him thy face, 
Seraphim in fullest chorus 

Cannot hush thy prayers' s^weet ^race — 



r'GGDRASlL. is 

■'Wliat is tliat "wliich. dra^ws us nearer? 
But a broken, -wliispered word; 
Yet ^ve strike our liarps triumpliant, 
For in lieaven a prayer is lieard ! 

"Glory! ^lory ! nov/ and ever 
To tlie Holy Tliree in One. 
(Tliat a Miserere's ended 
And Te Beum is be^un." 



^•00lrtra«il. 



Y'^^drasil — tlie towering Asli=tree=— 
Tbou^h. disleafin^ bour by bour, 

Still vsritb ever budding brancbes 
All Heimskrin^la dotb embowrer; 

At its root in realm of Hela, 

Gnaws tbe Nidbo^^ — dragon dread — 
But its fibers never loosen 

In tbe under=world of sbade ; =— 

'Neatb its bou^bs tbree norns are sitting 

Drooping Urda, downcast, sad; 
And Verdandi, ever busy, 

And tbe tbird is Skuld tbe ^lad; 



rGGDRASIL. 



Water tliey from sacred fountain 
Y'^^drasil = tlie lieaven=lii^h. = 

Write in runes tlie lapse of nations 
And of human destiny. 



'Tis th.e As]:i=tree of existence == 
Y'^^drasil==tli.e h.eaven=h.i^h. = 

And its roots in realm of Hela, 
In tlie darkened death.=land lie. 

Died a toiler in tlie market, 
Fell a hero ^\"orld-renov7n'd, 

From hi^h. Y'^^drasil = tlie life=tree=— 
They -were leaves that fell to ground. 

Of the norns by Mimer's fountain, 

Drooping Urda is the Past, 
Busy Present is Verdandi, 

Skuld, the Future, is the last. 






♦«|^0atrt» ^0«t "^nve anti pimple*** 

To travailing souls on Horeb 

Tlie burning bush, is slio-wn; 
By bearts as wbite as lilies 

Tbe Christ's s^veet Avords are kno^vn. 

To=day, tbrou^b forest gardens 

And on tbe mountain stair, 
As tbey wbo -walked in Eden, 

We wltb our Lord may fare ; 

On stony "way=side tablets 

His -writing v^e may trace, 
And see His loving gospel 

Witbin a violet's face. 

For seer most pure and simple 

Unrolls tbe fern=leaf scroll, 
Tbe parcbment of tbe pine=tree 

Is open to bis soul ; 

Tbe sprin^=time's resurrection 

Is sermon plain as Avords ; 
He bears an Easter antbem 

In carol of tbe birds. 27 



2$ RUINED CITIES OF MEXICO. 

Th.e world, to such., is only 
Like eastern paradise. 

An outward circling garden 
Where palace walls arise; 

The palace door may open 
At morn, or noon or ni^ht, 

And flood the little garden 

With heaven's effulgent li^ht. 



Nature holds in sacred trust 
The secret of these cities, 

Covers ^vith her robe their dust 
As whom a mother pities. 

Mantling vines she close ent^vines 
Concealing empty spaces ; 

Crimson leaves like purple ^vines 
Pour through their holy places. 

Priestess of an ancient faith 
She waits a ^od's returning, 

Sunshine's fire, like altar=^vraith, 
Her sacrificial burning. 



®0 tit© t!Lv0cn»* 

Th-ou art a li^lited taper 

In tlie liand of spring; 
Th.y fair flame cleaves tlie vapor 

Like a 'wild=bird's win^. 

S"weet Motlier Earth belioldin^ 
Lifts her blankets Avet ; 

Wh-ile sliakin^ tliem and folding 
Slie calls th.e violet. 

Cliained runlets see th.y beacon 
And tlaeir fetters break, 

Tlie vi^ater=falls awaken 

And tbeir timbrels sbake 

Blue reeds tbeir javelins quiver, 
Iris sword=blades spring 

From scabbards by tlie river 
At tby flickering. 

Tliro' sorrow's dreary winter 

Wandered one forlorn ; 
Tby ray ber ^loom doth, enter, 

Buds of hope are born. 



The cedars are a goodly folk 

Of old and lionored line, 
Tlieir tents are spread on Lebanon, 

Tliey drink Mount Herrtion's ^vine 

Tlie psalmist svT'eet of Israel 

Told of tlieir strength, and ^race, 

And saith. tlie son^, "Like cedars fair 
Is my Beloved's face!" 



I paused -witliin a cedar ^rove 
'Neath, trees of mighty ^irth., 

And prayed them tell me mysteries 
Of sky and sun and earth. 

They stood as if entranced in dream 

Of Lebanon the hi6h, 
Nor kne-w that I had questioned them. 

ISTor cared that I Avas ni^h. 

With saddened heart I turned away 

And sought our mountain pine ; 
And knelt beneath its branches wid3 
JO As kneeling at a shrine; 



THE CEDAR AND THE PINE. 

"When strai^h-trway from its to-werin^ top 

And outrward th.ro' the pine 
Its fringed branches trembled slight, 

It shook them for a si^n. 

And softly as from harpsichord, 
There came a m-armur sweet == 

With faint aeolian thrill of sound 
A cone fell at my feet. 

On piney couch beneath the tree 

I breathed an air like ^vine, 
And listened to a spirit play 

The harp-strings of the pine. 

Deep a"wed, I heard melodious runes 
Revealing earth's sweet mystery, 

And of the future of the world 
Triumphant son^s of prophesy. 

Tho' cedars crown Mount Lebanon 
And drink fair Hermon's wine, 

No charm of minstrelsy is theirs. == 
Chant on, my prophet=pine ! 



"Velvet anil $,ace* 

I. 

A weaver moved his loom in th.e sun 
And patiently wrought till day Avas done. 
His pattern lie took from the moss that ^rew 
Down at his feet, and from violets blue 
That dotted the mosses through and through. 

And this is how the -weaver -wrought, 
The velvet that fair Inez bought. 

//. 

A spider dropped his thread one day, =" 
It fell across a spinner's vray, 
The airy thread the spinner caught, 
And at his spindle tireless v^rou^ht 
'Till he had matched the spider's line 
With thread that wove a web as fine. 

Thence came the dainty bridal lace 
That veiled the blushing Inez' face. 



SS 



ertt ait (B^vfptian £ilij» 

/. 

Dost tliou dream of lilies sweet 
Standing with, tlieir silver feet 
Hidden lialf in E6ypt's sand, 
Lapped by ^vaters cool and bland? 
Dost tbou bear tbe "winds tbat si^b 
Tbro' tbe swaying papyri, 
Or tbe murnmrs far avv^ay 
Where tbe featb'ry palin=trees sway? 

//. 
By tbe darkly flowing Nile 
Lolls tbe sleepy crocodile ; 
Heavy sbadows tbat are slied 
From, tbe gloomy pyramid, 
Are but semblance of tbe sbade 
Tbat on E6ypt's face is laid. 

Bald and blear by desert land 

Mountain tops in sunli^bt stand ; 

On beyond in trackless patb. 

Burns tbe desert's fiery vrratb ; 

Bitter bane and bli^bt tbey tbrow 

On tbe river smootb and lo^v, = ^j 



34. TO AN EGrrriAN LILT. 

Yet tliy beauty like a smile, 
Li^lits tlie darkly flo-win^ Nile! 

IV. 

Stainless flower of truth, art tliou! 
Li^lit upon dark ISTilus' brow! 
May'st tbou, golden bearted bloom, 
With thy rareness of perfume, 
Holding all thy stainless life 
Tbro' old Egypt's ^loom and strife — 
Be of ber a prophesy, 
Showing fairer destiny 
Rounding in tbe fruitful years ==- 
E^ypt, standing 'mid ber peers, 
Royal, stainless, fair li^bt=cro^vn'd 
All ber ^allin^ chains unbound ; 
Wearing ^old and snow of truth, — 
Garb of an immortal youth. 



©Urn, 

Exodus, XV : 2j. 

Up from Marah-'s bitter waters 

Tlirou^h. tlae desert's sand and lieat, 
Toiled tlie tribes of ancient Israel 

With, their ^v©ary, v/anderin^ feet; 
Came "v^bere waving palms of Elim 

Cast tbeir sbado^vs dark and deej^, 
And the valley fresb and fragrant 

Dreaming lay in dev»^y sleep. 

There the plash of cooling fountains 

And the streamlet's gentle fall 
Sounded to the Aveary pilgrims 

Welcome as an angel's call; 
And they rested in their journey === 

Spread their tents in palmy shade, 
Slaked their thirst where happy v^aters 

With the de^vy grasses played. 

So it is in life's lon^ journey; 

Oft -w^e cross the desert ^vaste, 
Linger by the \vells of Marah 

And their bitter waters taste. 
Yet Jehovah leadeth surely 

Unto Elim's cool and calm, 
Where beside His living fountains 

Grows the victor's v^avin^ palm! ss 



j6 THE lesson: 

And with-out life's wildernesses, 

All tlieir Aveariness and pain, 
We, percliance, must miss forever 

Palm=^irt Elims to attain ; 
E'en tlie bitter ^vells of sorrow 

Turn to waters sweet and calm. 
And beside tlreir bealed fountains 

Swells at len^tli a joyful psalm. 



®h« geftson. 



Count tliou nothing liard or useless 
Heavy burdens lifted bi^h. 
Give a stature and a stren6tb. 
But tbe lesser tbin^s at len^tb. 

Tbou sbalt learn to magnify. 

Smiles one, only for tbe comfort 
Of a little eartb=tired cbild, 
From, its blusb=rose plucks tbe tborn, 
He sball find on beavenly morn 

Wben life's statue is unveiled. 

He bas ^iven finer limning 
To bis soul's uplifted face, 

Tban on serapb's brow bad sbone 

If in mi^bty deeds alone 

Had been sou^bt a royal place. 



♦•^tth ^tV0 ^orib*' health.** 

Fair-bro'wed babe, untouch.ed by sin, 
Purest angels are tliy kin; 
S^veetly art tbou dreaming yet 
Of tbe realms tbat "we forget, 
^nd the li^bt "v^itbin tbine eyes 
TboTi bast brou^bt from fairer skies; 

Accents of tbat vanisbed sbore 
Linger in tby baby lore, 
Radiant smiles tby sweet lips wear 
For tby kinsfolk in tbe air, 
Wbile tby dimpled bands in ^lee 
Catcb tbe ^ifts tbey brin^ to tbee. 
Oft I find tbee talking low, 
And tby fair face all a^lov^, = 
Alas ! tby AA^ords I can not tell 
Tbou^b tbey liold me like a spell. 

Witb tbese two "worlds' "wealtb for tbee 

Tbou art sovereign more tban Ave ; 

Tbou art wiser too, my kin^, 

For tbou sittest questioning 

Witb a wisdom deeper far 

Than our truest answers are I ^7 



38 



THE HOUSE. 

Wh.at do years th.at sit and wait 
In tlie purple lialls of fate, 
Hold for tliee, my baby kin^? 
Is it myrrh, tbat they sball brin^ 
As tbeir free=i\all offering? 
Myrrh, and frankincense belong 
Only to the ^ood and strong. 

May I see, my lau^hin^=eyed. 

When thy soul's strength shall be tried, 

That thou ^vearest royally 

Cro^vn of man's nobility. 



®he ^<ru«e» 



We built a house =— my heart and I — 

It stood before us fair and hi^h. 

Its arches spanned ^vith airy ^race 

Tall balcony and fluted space 

Where thoughts, like Avin^ed birds mi6ht clin6 

And fold their win^s or flit and sin^ ; 

Its far fagades against the sky 

Took shape from clouds that floated by 

Within \vas rest for heart and eyes. 
Each sep'rate place a ^lad surprise,— 
And yet no hanamer's clarion sound 
Had broke the sacred stillness 'round. 



THE HOUSE. SQ 

We Avrou^lit alone — my heart and I — 

Upon a mountain, with, the sky 

Cloudy=bastioned, arching ni^h ; 

Then other builders came and Avrou^ht 

Upon the pattern -v^e had brought; 

And \vhen they said their ^vork Avas done, 

We came = and vv"ept = at set of sun. 

For lo, the house they had upreared 
Was not the one that had appeared 
Upon the mountain's summit hi^h ; 
And sore "we \vept, my heart and I. 

The artisan I could not blame, 
He reared full well by rule and name 
What -we had built = my heart and !=== 
From thoughts v^rithin us and the sky! — 



In heaven, perchance, swift thought uprears 
The house that unto thought appears. 



We build a house™ my heart and I — 
To be our d\\^ellin^ by and by. 
The li^ht that shines where is no ni6ht 
Shall try the house, if it be ri^ht; 
And One \^rho stands Avith truest meed 
Shall measure it Vv^ith 6olden reed. 



Hush. ! th.e fairest liancls I know 
Lie as still as lies tlie snow, 

And as ^vliite. 

Sin^ ! th.e liands tliat toucli the Throne 
Are the ones that clasped thine OAvn 
Yester=ni6ht. 

Weep ! the sweetest eyes of all 
Sealed lie beneath, the pall, 

Love=li6ht flown. 

Look! ^vhere heavenly ^lory lies 
Smile on thee the same s\Nreet eyes 
Sweeter ^ro^vn. 



miycti of the ilt0ht? 

ISTi^ht Avinds Avith their fin6ers fine 
Sweep the harp-strin6s of the pinu ; 
Touoli as -w^ith a courtier's ^race, 
Brier=rose's sweet and blushing face ; 
Praises tell to violets blue 
^o Draped in mosses, gemmed v^ith dow 



TO THE SEA. 

Rivers "w^idenin^ deep and stron6, 
Cliant tlieir purpose in a son^; 
Pause in -winding ^^^ays to kiss 
Litrfcle grasses into bliss ; 
Mirror faithful from the skies 
Moon that lighted Paradise. 

Winded shado^\•'S darkly sweep, 
Heavy ni^ht=de\vs silent v/eep, 
Star=shine sends its ^lory down 
On the grasses ^em=set crovrn, 
Trailing moon=beams soft and ^vhite 
Fringe the seamless robe of ni^ht. 



^o tij0 ^^ct: 



O ! thou mighty restless main, 
Groaning, travailing in thy pain. 
Almost human is thy cry 
Lifted to the bending sky. 
By thy stru^^le and unrest, 
By the heaving of thy breast, 
By thy climbin6 but to fall, 
By the anguish of thy call. 
By the spreading of Avhite handa 
On the even shifting sands, 
By thy raisino thro' the air 



TO THE SEA. 

Half an antliem lialf a prayer, 

By these all— = and more than tliese = 

Comes tlie da^vnin^ of tliy peace ! 

On tliy bleaclied, silver sand 
Lo, a seer sliall one day stand ; 
He sliall tliro' tlie a^es look, 
Reading from tliem as a book ; 
Turn tlieir leaves back to tbe pa^e 
"Wben tbe ^vorld be^an its a^e ; 
Onward look M^ith. propbet's eye 
Tbro' tbe cycles tbat still lie 
In tbe "womb of Destiny ! 

He sball understand tby moan; 

He sball make tby pain bis o\vn 

Till be open as a scroll 

All tbe sorrows of tby soul ; 

He sball be a moutb to tbee 

And sball utter reverently 

All tby burdening mystery. 



Purple^ vestured stands Monadnoc 
Just beyond our motlier's door, 

And iny lieart ^oes out to meet i-t 
As tlie patriarch, of yore 

Went to meet on Plains of Mamre, =- 

As is v^rrit in sacred scroll — 
Holy messenger of lieaven 

With, a blessing for his soul. 

Great Monadnoc bears a messa6e 

Unto me Avho sit apart, 
Message full of ^race and 61adness 

To my ^veary, way Avard heart ; 

No interpreter is needed 

'Tween the mountain and my soul, 
For its speech is plainer to me 

Than the lore of "worldly school. 

Up against the cloudy fleeces 

Hi^h it lifts its flowery bells 
And the music they are spillin6 

Charms our plainer parallels; 4^ 



MONADNOC. 

All alon^ its ferny ed^es 

Clin^ th.e rainbow scarfs of de^\^ ; 

Sway tlie dark pines on its ledges, 
Ever clian^eless, ever new. 

Soft tlie mountain's purple garment 
Downward drifts about my face, 

'Till my finders touch, its fringes 
And its misty, slieeny lace. 

Wbo am I, that ^reat Monadnoc 

Looks dovrn from tlie sky to ^reet? 

Only one v^ko loves kim duly, 
Gladly lingers at kis feet. 

Wken I come up worn and M^eary 
From tke bustling, busy mart, 

Fullest v/elcome does ke ^ive me 
To kis sturdy, steadfast keart. 

Strai^ktway falls from ackin^ forekead 
Burd'nin6 cro^vn of care and pain, 

And as one witk oil anointed 
Healed == I turn to toil a^ain. 



iBa^is ^in0«. 



We built us a nest in th.e cleft of tlie rock, 
We ^vere close to tlie sky, and tlie storm's fierce 
shock 

Broke over our nest, 

And ^ave us its best 

Of tlie li61itnin^'s fire. 

Of tlie thunder's ire ! 
We heard the trumpets that blew through the sky, 
They almost touched us, they were so ni^h ! == 
We spread ^lad wln^s on the storm=cloud's crest 
And braved its bolts with exultant breast. 
Our cry Avent forth v.ath the tenipest stron6, 
Our cry and the tempest made one son^. 

//. 

We build a nest in a valley fair. 

We part the grasses' flo^vin^ hair. 

And down mid dews and ferny things 

We fold a Vv^hile our ea^le win^s. 

We feel the earth's w^arm pulses thrill, 

And hear her dew^y buckets fill, 

We see a languor from the sun 

Through all the happy blossoms run. ,<, 



EAGLE WINGS. 

Mid buds A\"liere ground-birds flit and sin^ 
We v^^eave a nest of twi^ and string ; 
We line it \vell ^\^ith. frin^in^ moss== 
Can ^<N-Q e'er dream of lack or loss? 
'Tis softer than tbe aeried nest 
Upon the mountain's rocky crest, 
And warmer liere tbe sunbeams lie 
Than ^\^liere tbe \vliite cliffs fret the sk:^. 

Far above us in the blue 
There are sounds that thrill us through ' 
Is it swoop of eagles hi^h? 
Is it that their clarion cry- 
Echoing through the stormy sky 
Wakens in our hearts reply? 
Ah! 'tis hard for eagles born 
Close against the broAV of morn, 
To lie still in valley nest 
With its mossy fringes dressed. 



Listening wliere a river passes 
Tlirou^h. tlie ferns and meadow grasses, 
I can liear tlie dews distilling, 
Hear th.e tender buds afillin^ ; 

Flow^ery li}ps ^vith. joy unsealing, 

All tlieir secrets are revealing ; ' 

Happy roses soft unfolding 

Sliov/- me wliat tlieir liearts are lioldin^ ; 

Little branches li^btly swin^in^ 
Set tlieir faery bells a rin^in^ 
Telling tales of summer \veatlier 
Humming bees and purple lieatber 

With, the sweetness running over 
From the lips of honeyed clover, 
I have nectar richer, SAveeter, 
Than the famous stores of Hybla ! 

Never kin^ in royal palace 

Drank such wine from jeweled chalice, 

Though 'twere brewed by Bacchus olden, 

As I quaff from kin^=cups golden. ^ 



A jr. YE IDYL. 

I liave jems of ne-west forming — 
Sliinin^ de^v=drops every morning == 
Nature opens A^^ide her treasures, 
Lets me clioose me out my pleasures, 

Tells nie tliat lier shades of sadness 
Are but sesames to gladness ; 
Shows me Avork and peace are sisters, 
Lets me hear their happy whispers. 



Dowered with strength from rock=ribbed mountain, 
Filled w^ith laughter from the fountain. 
Dreaming -where the sunbeams quiver, 
Fearless v^^ith the fearless river, 
Learn I lessons SAveet and tender 
• Of a richer, fuller splendor; 
Read in mount and meadow's meetness 
Of a holier completeness. 





31 l^intcv ^avable* 

In undiscovered parallels 

Mid pole=star space an artist dwells ; 

He came to eartli, ^rown dark and cold, 
And reared a new world from our old. 

Beliold it lie 'neath. morning's rays, 
A ^leamin^, flittering "world of praise. 

'Tis like a cliildliood's fable s^weet 
To see on earth, tliis silver street, 

To find our trees, at eve so bare, 
Now blossoming with, crystals rare, 

Our dv/ellin^s gemmed in triple whirl, 
Each sev'ral ^ate a single pearl ! 



Lo, from this v^intry page I read 
A parable that suits my need, 

At eve 'twas v^hispered, "One has died," 
But now, "Behold the glorified!" 



<fQ 



©he Utttth ^cvci»» the stream. 

"Before a shrine in this fatnous cathedral ivjo forms reposed avjaitivg 
burial. One was a babe, sleeping as szveetly as on its mother^s breast; the 
other was an aged grand- dame, but the expression upon her face vjas as 
peaceful as that of the child. At head and feet of both tapers were burning 
to light the departed spirts on their way. 

'■'■hi our hearts we gave thanks for a faith lighting the dark passage 
from Life to Life.'''' 

Th.e billoAvs ^leain, liow bri^litly ^leain, 

Tlieir li^lit is from tlie lieavenly shore ; 
How fair tlie path, across the stream. 

"Who walks in yon translucent beam. 

Hath holy peace forever more = 
The billows ^leam, how brightly 61earn. 

The child's white feet like lilies seem, 

His dimpled hands reach on before — 
HoAV fair the path across the stream. 

He smiles as in the s^veetest dream 

"While One Ave see not leads him o'er=-= 
The billows ^leam, how brightly ^leam. 

Earth's thorny pathway, chill and breme, 
The a^ed feet shall tread no more — 
50 Ho^v fair the path across the stream. 



IN RAIMENT OF NEEDLE-WORK. 5/ 

Soft airs \vith. "wafted Avelcom.es teem, 

One beckons from tlie nearin^ sliore — 
Tlie billows ^leam, bow bri^btly ^leam; 
How fair tbe patb across tbe stream. 



Psalm 4^. 

Tbe dau^bter of tbe Kin^ is fair, 
Her garments trail Vv^itb myrrb, 

And all tbe cassia of sv^^eet life 
Like cloud encircles ber: 

Tbe dau^bter of tbe Kin^ is fair, 
And to tbe Kin^ is bro"u.6bt 

In raiment of fine needle=work 

Tbat ber ovv^n band batb wron^bt: 

Its folds tbat are tbe fairest 
Sbe \vove in patient pain; 

Its flowers tbat are tbe rarest 
Were wet v/itb sorrow's rain. 



^ l>i«>tott 0f the C^ljoriift. 

Many visions come to me. 
Once upon a \vild tliorn=tree 
Sa^v I all its branch.es bro"wn 
Bend and shape them to a crown; 
And the drops of dew that run 
Do^vn the thorns shone in the sun 
Red as blood that kissed the thorn 
On the crucifixion morn. 

Voice I heard as passion'lovv' 
As a Avood=dove's tremolo, 
Chanting in the thorny tree, 
Psalmin^, sin^in^ ceaselessly ; 
"Felt the thorn Redemptive Blood 
Ere it flowed on Holy Rood! " 

Shov/ed the vision ere it fled 

Who wears the thorn hath croAvned head.' 



JS 



®ije ^ttllcit tttth the ^oittttattt ^ct««« 

Mountains once I sou^lit to climb : 
But the purple liei^lits sublime 
To^^rered so far above my head 
That I softly, sadly said, 
'Tis not meet that I should spoil 
All of sweet life with such toil; 
I Avill tarry here a^vhile 
Where the rose and river smile: 
Ease it ^ives my weary feet, 
And the river sin^in^ sweet, 
Bears away my soul's unrest 
Like a leaf upon its breast; 
Languid breath of lotus=bell 
Lades the air with dreamful spell. 
And I care no more to climb 
To the purple heights sublime. 

Lon^ I dallied by the stream 
Lost in li^ht, delicious dream, 
'Till an An^el, svvreet love sent 
From the upper firmament, 
Touched my soul Avith heavenly Vv^ord 
And its deepest fountain stirred. 
!N'ev;;^ly then my feet I turned, jj 



S4 THE VALLET and the MOUNTAIN PASS. 

Eagerly my spirit yearned 
For tlie purple liei^lits sublime 
"Which, a.^ain I sought to climb. 

But the feet that chose to stray 
Where but scented rose=leaves lay, 
Idly follo^win^ so lon^ 
Gentle river's soothing son^, 
Found the mountains hard to tread, 
And the torrents fierce that sped 
Sv/ift across the ru^^ed ^way, 
Dark'nin^ e'en the face of day. 

Yet the mountain=pass is shown 
Fairer than the valley, strown 
With its rose=leaves and its dew, 
With its river Vv^indin^ through 
Here, each day, my soul is fed 
On an eucharistic bread, 
Ev'ry upward step doth brin^ 
Strength to bear and heart to sin6; 
And my An^el s^weet Love sent 
From the upper firmament, 
ShoAVS me where thick stars are set 
' In a glorious coronet 
Hi^h above the steeps I climb. 
O'er the purple heights sublime. 



MNEME. 

Musing, tlie fire burned." 



I can^lit a trailing \\n.ld=rose vine 

And bent it to a lyre; 
Pale roses SAAran^, like ^vind-=bells h.-an6 

Alon^ tlie bended brier; 

At ni^bt I mused before tbe fire 
"Wbere memory's embers lay; 

Lo ! ^vbile I m.used tbe embers flowed 
Tbe lyre be^an to play. 



Curious casket =— iny stery = 
Carved mar^arite of the sea ! 
All tliy silent voicefulness 
Thrills ray soul like strange caress. 

Full tliou art of mystic springs 
As a sliell of Avliisperin^s ; 
Quaint tliou art as quaint can be 
Carved mar^arite of the sea ! 

Iridescent, flashing thin6, 
Strangest fancies thou dost brin^ ! 
What the powers that in thee sleep 
Troubling thus my spirit's deep? 

Thou art quaint and sealed tomb 
Where in cerements and ^loom 
Thoughts are hidden, Avhich like kin^ 
Once v^ere living, croA\''ned things. 



J7 



Crijje ^iUon» antt the 2a0«e» 

Grew a rose=tree in its beauty 

By a river aeons past; 
Graceful -was its sv/ayin^ shadow 

In th.e flowing river cast; 

Bri^h.test sunsliine of th.e morning, 
Dewy dirism of tli.e ni^lit, 

Gave tlie bush, in pride and passion 
To a bud that like a li^ht 

On its slender stem uplifted 

Made a ^lory round the place ; 

White as snow the rose=bud opened — 
ISTever flower had fairer face ! 

Close beside it ^rew a v/illov^ 

Tall and strong =— a kindly tree — 

Its lithe branches lifted upward 
Were a goodly si^ht to see ; 

Pleasant to it ■was the sunshine, 

Pleasant ^was the tempest's strife, 
For its roots were deep and clasping 
jS And it felt a joy in life. 



THE WILLOW AND THE ROiiE. sq 

Shining veil of bride»like beauty, 

"Woven by the sun and de^v, 
Was the royal ^ift that morning 

O'er the opening rose=bud threvr; 

This the vision that aAvaited 

When the Avillow looked adown, 

And a thrill of pain and pleasure 
Shook the tall tree to its crown : 

Then it ceased to Avatch above it 
Snowy clouds, afrin^e with flame, 

Cared no longer for the sunshine 
ISTor for any vrinds that came ; 

But it bent above the blossom 

From day's da^vn unto its close. 

And a flush of love and gladness 
Lit the fair face of the rose. 

This befell anear earth's morning, 
Summers passed as summers vrill, 

But the -willow bendeth ever, 
And the rose is blushing still. 



My lieart beguiled by ^ypsy ch.ild, 
In fancy roved like Zinc'li Avild ! 

Tbe sun-=kissed ^race of dusky face, 
Tlie eye tliat told of bandit race, 
Were spells anotlier mi^bt resist, 
But from my beart, tbe babe I kissed ! 

Witb band upon ber kercbief'd bead, 
S"weet marvel in ber eyes I read : 

Tben tbinkin^ of life's tborny Avay, 
"Wbere bearts oft bleed and feet oft stray, 
I longed to see an angel's v^in^ 
Tbe little one o'er=sbadowin^. 

Witb pride and joy tbe motber smiled 
Tbat I sbould kiss ber dark=broAv'd cbild, 

"Ab, lucky ye'er and proud! " sbe said, 
"List, v^rould ye like your fortune read? " 
Wby bid I not tbe sybil try, 
Tbe ^ypsy crone v^dtb piercing eye? 

Tbo' cban^e sball come, I knovr not bow, 
do I vT-ould not tbat tbe then be now.— 



GULL lake: 



6/ 



Still turns my lieart with, strange unrest 
To babe tbat lay on ^ypsy breast; 
May she of Isbmael's outcast race 
In Israel find a dv^ellin^ place. 



m\xX\ gake. 



Down upon the blue lake's brink 
Once the wild fa\vns came to drink, 
Dipped tbe silver of th.eir feet 
In the ^vaters cool and sweet, 
Fed from off the sedgy bank 
On the grasses tall and dank, 
Slept amon^ the shadows near 
KnoAvin^ neither haste nor fear. 

Soon as finders of the spring 
Loosed the vv-aves to dance and sin^, 
Came the "wild ducks' happy fleet 
Sailing slow, with, ^race replete; 
There the stars that pant on hi^h 
Trembled in a second sky; 
And the bird Avbose dainty nest 
DoAvn amon^ the reeds A\^as pressed, 
Darting from the leafy bank 
Trimmed its feathers while it drank. 



62 GULL LAKE. 

Now tlie liands of man liave made 
Furrowed field wliere once was sliade, 
And tlie waves tliat lau^lied all day 
Learn to toil as Vv'ell as play. 

But tlie clear lake flashes yet, 
Like a crystal emerald=set ; 
Still its banks I knov^ are fair 
With, the willows' vsravin^ hair; 
Berries han^ from trailing vines 
Over coves as still as shrines, 
Where clear ^vaters pulsing slov.^ 
Whiten with the lilies' sno^v. 

Of its banks my memory tells 
Where pale orchids han^ their bells, 
Where sweet violets white and blue 
Lift their meek eyes full of de^v, 
Where the yellovT- covv^slip springs, 
Where the lupine spreads its win^s : 
On the hill=slopes, v/ell I kno^v. 
Where the bloodroots sprinkle snov^, 

Where 'neath leafy coverlid, 
Pale anemonies lie hid : 
Oft they ^ave me sv^^eet surprise 
With their troops of lau^hin^ «y©s, 
Coming ere the spring had kissed 
Winter's ^ray to amethyst. 



AXNTE LEE. 63 

Tliere are coves I know full well 

Where I found tlie pearly sliell, 

Trim, as any dainty boat 

Ever fairy set afloat : 

Here, to=day, tliose sliells repeat 

Rippling murmurs Ioav and s\veet. 

In my soul's ear lj.ear I oft 
Distant waters lapping soft; 
Often in my liappy dreains 
See a^ain tlieir silver fleams, 
While I father bloom and brake 
From thy margin, crystal lake. 



Jlnnti? gee. 



I have -waited, calling vainly 

For the little Annie Lee, 
'Till the blossoms fell like snovsr=f lakes 

From the over-han^in6 tree ; 

For she left me in the autumn, 

When the days ^revv^ dark and chill 

When the v^rithered leaves -were falling 
And the A\^arbler's note -was still. 



64 ANNIE LEE. 

But sh.e spoke to me in parting 
"With, a voice as sweet and lev/-, 

As th.e voices are in heaven 
Where Ave all so lon^ to 60 ! 

And slie promised she would meet me 
"When a few more days had flo^vn, 

When the clouds had left the hilltops 
And the early flowers had ^rown, ™ 

Now, the spring has brought the woodbine, 
And the apple boughs are fair 

With the blushes 'mon6 their petals 
AYhere the morning's finders are. 

All the breezes scatter gold=dust 
From the kin^=cups on the hill, 

Every bloom is dank vdth honey 
And the ^^vild=bees drink their fill, 

I liave called through all the wood=land 

"I am -waiting, Annie Lee!" 
But the forest softly si^hin^ 

Sent the echoes back to me. 

Still I know that she is Avaitin6 

And sweet troth doth keep v^ith me ; 

In a land of brighter blossoms 
I shall clasp my Annie Lee. 



In th.e tliick growth, of tlie rushes 

Wliere tlie Avaxen lilies lie, 
Wliere th.e star=flo^ver sliootetli upward 

Leafy arrows fair and lii^h., 

With, white feet amon^ the pebbles 

And the golden grains of sand, 
Stands a child = as fair as morning — 

Reaching out his ea^er hand ; 

He had caught the v/ond'rous gleaming 

Of the lilies white as snow. 
He has heard the graves beseeching, 

Calling to him soft and lowr, 

And has left the rose unfathered, 
Left the wild thyme for the bee, 

And the daisies and the clover 
Tangled in a "waving sea ; 

He has sought the peerless blossoms, 
Whiter than the v^-hite sea foam, 

Sought to draw them ea^er=fin^ered 

From the blue depths of their home : 6? 



66 2HE CHILD AND. THE LILIES. 

His ^vliite feet are almost buried 
In tlie golden grains of sand, 

And th.e blue -waves circling round liiin 
Gently draw bira from tlie land; 

His clear eyes are earnest, tender, 
As a purpose deepens tbere, 

And tbe lon^in6 of bis spirit 

Is as tbo' be breatbed a prayer; 

As tbe cool ^vinds fan bis forebead, 
Softly toucb bis palin6 cbeeks, 

He is truer type of beauty 

Tban tbe lilies wbicb be seeks. 



Down amon^ tbe sbinin^ pebbles 
And tbe golden grains of sand, 

Lies a cbild = as fair as morning — 
"Witb a lily in bis band. 



Not tlie roses deep and full 
Making gardens beautiful,— 
Ope'nin^ fold on fold of silk, 
Red as blood or wbite as milk, — 
Are tbe blossoms set apart 
In *'tlie boly" of my lieart; 

But sweet roses fair and \^n.ld 
That I loved most Avben a child 
Such, as met me in the ^vood 
Symbols of kind angelhood; 

Weary was the home^vard way, 

Thro' a forest dark it lay. 

And my heart stood still ^vith fear 

Mid its shadows dark and drear; 

But where all the shadoA\^3 met 

In a jungle Avild and Avet, 

Burst these roses on my si6ht, 

Each a beacon of delight. 

Saying to my sad child heart 

God doth see thee ^vhere thou art, 

He who bids the roses be 

In His love doth ^o with thee ! 67 



68 CHILDHOOD'S TREASURE. 

Looking backward o'er life's dream, 
Still tliose wild=^vood roses seera 
"With, tlieir sea=sliells' pinky fold, 
With, their triple crown of ^old. 
To iny soul true ininisters 
And kind heaven's interpreters ; 

And I sometimes think I kno^v, 
Th.at the same sweet roses ^row 
In th.e gardens of th.e skies, 
Witliin th.e v/alls of paradise. 



Through, the world my cliildhood knew 

With, its simple pleasures, 
Ran a brook of skies' cwn h.ue,=== 

Dearest of my treasures! 

Do its slight v/aves beckon still 
In the sunshine's glamours? 

Dogs their slender son^ yet trill 
As in olden summers? 

In its purple and its ^old 

Is the iris standing, 
Royal as the queen of old 

Mid the rushes bending? 



THE TRESS OF HAIR. bq 

Are tlie fern-leaves waving yet 

Wliere the foot^lo^ crosses? 
Are th.e beds of violet 

S^veet araon^ tlie mosses? 

Do tlie rushes sv^ay and bend 

As tbe li^lit beck passes? 
Sliinin^ je-wels doth, it lend 

To the dipping grasses? 

On it doth the forest shed 

Robe of puiple splendor 
With its waving hem o'er=laid 

By the sunshine's finder? 



Tress I have so silvery v/hite 

Weft it seems of fair moon=li^ht; 

Once it lay in shining fold 

O'er a face that men called old ; 

Yet each joy and pain and care 

Left such lines of beauty there 

That it shines the dim years through, 

SM^eetest face my childhood knew. 



tentorial ^at^. 

Fadeless garlands v^rould I lay 
On my playmate's ^rave to=day, 
Amaranth, and immortelle, 
Ch.an6eless bay and asphodel ; 

I would ^veave them as no hand 
KnoAveth hew, in all the land 
To wreave chaplets for the head 
Of a hero lyin6 dead ! 

With the brightness of their bloom 
They should make his silent tomb 
BeaLitiful as love's surprise 
In the bowers of paradise. 

But I may not brin^ to=day 
Amaranth nor \\rreath of bay, 
May not lay upon his tomb 
E'en so much as Avlld=rose bloom ; 

For afar his ^rave is made, 
'Neath the sky where once we played 
Where in hours of early youth 
Grew our friendship's flower of truth. 



THE PILGRIM'S STAFF. 

Mayh.ap lieaveii bendeth. do"wn 
INearer than our souls liave kno^wn 
He may even so receive 
This poor oliaplet that I \veave. 



©ire 5ilil0trtnt'« ^taff, 

A pilgrim raised Ms liead, 
For lo, an an^el said==- 
Azrael, tlae an^el said, 
Tliis tliresh-old is th.e last, yon fold 
Of cloud but hides the hills of ^old ! " 
The pilgrim's staff fell on the place, 
He passed beyond v/ith lighted face. 

Scarce touched his staff the sod 
When like the almond rod — 
The ancient almond rod. 
It burst to bud and bloom and seed, 
A symbol of the pilgrim's meed. === 
The rod shall blossom aeons hence; 
One whispers, " Lo, 'tis influence!" 

Flo^ver fairer than it yet hath borne 
May ope on resurrection morn, 



Once I d^^relt -with, fislier.folk 

In a liamlet by tlie sea, 
And my wliole of love -was ^iven 

To the maiden XJlalie ; 

Ulalie, the fisher's daughter, 

With a face as lilies fair, 
With the sunshine's ^old entangled 

In the li^ht Vs^efts of her hair; 

All her life was full of beauty 
As her face ^vas fair to see, 

And I could not choose but love hor — 
Love the maiden Ulalie ! 

But alas, the ^ray sea loved her, 
Loved and Vv^ooed her tenderly 

Whispered to her morn and even 
Of his kingdom's mystery! 

Told her of his strength and darin6, 
San6 her son6s of love most sv^eet, 

Brought her jewels for her wearing. 
Swept his white beard at her feet. 



MORNING ON BERKSHIRE HILLS. 73 

One pale eve lie found lier walking 

On tlie slielvin6 sliores alone, 
And in fond embrace h.e bore 

Downward to bis jasper tbrone. 

Evermore I sit and listen 

At tbe gateway of tbe sea, 
For my Avbole of love v/as ^iven 

To tbe maiden Ulalie. 



Plorntnf^ on ^crk»iytre Miliar* 

I looked beyond tbe Berksbire bills 
Witb reverent awe and Avonder, 

Beyond tbe ^lintin^ mountain rills 
And burning busbes' splendor; 

I tbou^bt to see Monadnoo's face 

Nev^ majesty revealing, 
But lo, a cloud swun^ down tbe space 

Tbe mountain's brov^ concealing. 

So, once, wben Israel's seer of old 
Had faced tbe li^bt eternal, 

Veiled vras bis brow, none mi^ht bebold 
Its radiance supernal. 



A tomb, I have, of granite stone, 
A ru^^ed tomb Vv^ith. moss o'er^ro-wn, 
Upon tlie stone before its door 
Is — ' ' Obiit " = and notbin^ more. 

By day and ni^bt I ^o alone. 
And roll away tbe lieavy stone ; 
I enter in tbe darken'd place. 
And lift tbe napkin from tbe face ; 

I press tbe lips, close=sealed and cold, 
To mine=— Avitb lack of smiles ^ro^vn old== 
And wonder Vv^bicb is dead tbe Avbile, 
Since neitber moutb batb power to smile. 

//. 
Tbe bour is come wben I may take 
My pale, sweet dead, for mine ow^n sake, 
And walk a^ain tbe Avay tbat leads 
Mid leaping founts and flowery meads; 

Witb eyes tbat smile I now can see 
Tbe 6ifts ber close bands bold for me, 
And lo, as \\rrit witb meaning wide, 
14. "Tbe tomb ^vas in a garden side." 



©he ♦♦^atr0ci-||le-ll0t. ♦• 

Wh.en blossoms first bedecked the earth. 

In Eden's happy bovvers, 
The Lord came do\v^n in cool of day 

And -walked amon^ His f louvers ; 

To each He ^ave its fitting name, 

To each a lovin6 Avord, 
And blessed the garden He had made 

Beholding it w'-as j^ood ! 

A^ain he came in cool of day, 
And walked amon^ His flov^ers, 

But one He saw, a blossom fair, 
AVas sad in Eden's bowers ; 

The loving Lord bent tenderly 

And raised its drooping head, 
When, "Lord, my name I have forgot!" 

The blue eyed blossom said ; 

No cruel Avord the Master ^ave, 

"For6et Me USTot," spake He, 
And smiling on the sad, sweet flov^er, 

"Lo, Tins tliy name shall be!" 75 



ply (Dlb-®tnt0 $0ve anil |r. 

Far through, forest aisles we wandered, 
He==m.y old=tirQe love = and I, 

Where the sliine and sliado^v mingle 
As in liuman destiny ! 

"With, caresses soft the breezes 

Brushed the furrows from, each bro^v, 
Tossed our tresses li^ht as Vv^hen they 

Clustered ^old instead of sno^v: 

My thin hand lay half atrerable 
In my lover's broader palm, 

While the peace of earth and heaven 
Folded us Avithin its calm : 

Low we read in realm enchanted, 
Poet fancies s^veet and sa^e ; 

Read our own lon^ life=time story 
From illuminated pa^e ; 

SavT" ■where'er a tear had fallen, 
Or a little ^rave been made, 

There, the fairest flowers had clustered, 
There, the rarest ^ems were laid. 



Ml' OLD-TIME LOVE AND L 

Tlius we lingered till th.e twili^lit 
Curtained o'er tlie arcMn^ skies, 

Then we came up from the woodland 
Talking lo^v in lover=wise, =— 

But you're smiling at my story, 
It, perchance, should not be told, 

Though my heart so over=brimmin6 
Scarcely can its gladness hold. 

We, I know, have passed life's inornin^, 

Stand beyond its golden noon, 
Linger in the closing twilight 

Where the "^ood nights" come full soon; 

But the love that blessed our morning 

Making it a joy to see, 
Is the crown of all life's journey. 

To my old=time Love and me. 



77 



On a mountain sloping nortliAvard, 
Mid its sliadovv^s dark and cold 

Wliere tlie fiercest winds \vere driven 
And tlie blackest storm-clouds rolled, 

There, my cliildliood found its shelter — 
Eaglets liave been reared in sucli-= 

Knowing neither sunshine's glamour 
ISTor the south=v,dnd's gentle touch. 

Gray and far the sky above me ; = 
Yet I loved its silver shield, 

White and cold the snows around me 
Whence the avalanches pealed. 

Yet I loved them = as the ea^le 
Loves his aerie mid the snows = 

But he leaves it, but he spurns it 
When the larger v/orld he knovrs ! 

Once I climbed to higher summits 

Overlooking all I knevv^, 
And it seemed the more I journeyed 
75 Somewhat still my footsteps dre^v, 



THE SHEPHERD, -jq 

'Till I readied a cra^ ^\rliere looking 

Do^vn^vard far on eitlier liand, 
Cold I sa^v my liome beneath, me — 

But afar th.e valley land. 

Tliere, in sunsliine rivers widened 
As my soul had never dreamed, 

There the forest and the meado\v 

With rich flo^ver and fruitage teemed. =— 

Does the ea^le that has floated 

In the ^lory of the sun 
Seek a6ain the hidden aerie 

Where his simple life be^un? 



/. 
Up mountain passes dark and steep 
An Alpine shepherd called his sheep ; 

//. 
The rills that fed the vale below 
Had ceased their lau^hin^ overflo^v, 

And pastures ^reen and de^vy s^veet 
Grew black and bare beneath the heat; 



THE SHEPHERD. 
IV. 

But liei^lits beyond th.e slieplierd knew, 
Wliere V7avin6 w^ealth. of brasses ^re^v; 

V. 

Wliere bi-ooks leaped down tlie niountain pass 
And tlirevv^ tlieir diamonds o'er tlie ^rass. 

vi. 
Unto the shadow of ^TQa^t rocks 
The Alpine shepherd called his flocks ; 

VH. 

But one there was with lambkin "white 
That v/ould not climb the ru^^ed height 

77//. 
The shepherd turned from mountain crest, 
The lamb he laid upon his breast; 

IX. 
Then came the mother to his side, 
And followed close the shepherd=^uide. 



X. 

My o"\A^n VvT'hite lam.b in sweetest rest 
Is borne upon The Shepherd's breast, 

XI. 
I follow^ now" up mountain side 
My snow white lamb and Shepherd ^uide, 

XII. 
The path I thought a rou^h, dark way 
1 find is lit with heavenly ray, 



ROCKFORD. 8i 

XIII. 

While He upon the mountain crest 
With my white lamb upon His breast, 

XIV. 

Hath love == such love upon His face 
The mount doth ^row a holy place. 



^ocUfarir, 



Are the chan^in^ years a myth? 
As the pine=tree whispereth, 
Voices whisper in my ear 
I had thou6ht no more to hear; 
Distance but a mist doth seem 
O'er thee, city of my dream ! 

I can see thy river ^lide 
With its silver, sun=f locked tide ; 
See it march v^ith silent pace 
And \vith shadovr=darkened face. 
Past the mounds that faithful keep 
Annals of a race that sleep ; 
See it trip "with silver feet 
Dovm its broad and rocky street, 
'Till it lingers v^rapt in calms, 
Holding in its circling arms 



82 



ROCKFORD. 



Happy Island fair and blest, 
With, its flower 'd and ferny crest. 

Unto fancy it doth, seem 
The enchanted, mystic stream 
That the Poets say dotli.flo^v 
Past the "Isle of Lon^ A^o." 



/ 



AOIDE 

And Th.e Lyre. 



Ni^lit -w^inds swept tlie lieavy pines = 

S\\rept tliem mi^litily! 
Through, their bou^lis an antliem rose 

Rich. Avith. harmony. 

When the harp I sought to find 

In the piney tree, 
'Lo, the lyre is in thy heart!" 

Said the pine to me. 



tall and fair th.e lily stands, 

With, stainless brow and golden bands; 

She bends to me, 

She sends to nie 
Across the fra6rance of her breath 
The sweetest Avord that lip e'er saith. 

Thou, up and down the 6arden v.^alk, 
Hast passed full oft my lily stalk. 

But unto me. 

And not to thee, 
She sends across her fragrant breath 
The sweetest 'word that lip e'er saith. 



Who -would not be Endymion 

And sleep for aye and aye. 
With thee, Salene, v/oman fair, 

To kiss his cares away! ^ 



^6 ODM. 

Aiid yet, metliinks, tlio' sleep Avere sweet 
And still and strong as death., 

Th.y kiss v^ould be tlie subtle spell 
To ^vake the bated breath: 

Such li^ht -would flood this little mount 

As Latmus never knew, 
Endymion would crave to dwell 

On Gray lock here "with you. 



©bin, 

God Odin, thou art kin of ours ! 

Thy blood in English, veins 
Tliy thoughts, O Thinker, in our hearts. 

Compel to bold refrains. 

Thy bale-fires leaping up the heights 

In Korseland's early days, 
Have cau^bt alon^ the hills of time 

And set the world ablaze ! 

Thy liero=heart that felt the thrill 
Of nature deep and ^rand, 

Saw further than thy children saw- 
Through sky and sea and land: 



WILD STRAWBERRIES. 

Ttie forces th.at -were Jotiins ^rim 
Still match, ^vith. mortal ^^^ill, 

And valor — fiercely slaying fear— 
Hath, lioly virt\ie still. 

Thy heart sincere, thy valor true, 
Have keyed these after=times 

And send a ru^6ed rid^e of truth 
Through, later runes and rhymes. 



Wisest Merlin, dost thou know 

Where ^vild strav^berry clusters ^rovr? 

"Do^wn in tangled meadow ^^ass 
A\rh.ere li^lit feet of children pass; 

"Where the ground=bird's nest is laid, 
Half in sun and half in shade; 

"Wliere a rosy mist is spread 
O'er the fragrant clover's bed; 

"By the side of rippling streams 
Where the purple iris dreams; 

"Where the Avild=rose drinks the de^v, 
And the violet -wears its blue ; 



SS WILD STRAWBERRIES. 

*'Wh.ere tlae grapes' ^reen clnster s^vin^s 
Wliei'e the blackberry trails its \vin.^s; 

"Little maiden, now dost know 
^Vbere v/ild strav^^berry clusters ^roA\' ? ' 

Wisest Merlin, canst tliou tell 
How tlieir scarlet berries s^vell ? 

"Evening tbrou^li tbe darkness brings 
Draughts of de%v from unseen springs; 

"Day by day is banquet spread 
Of tbe sunshine's Goodly bread, 

"Whispering ^;v^inds enchantment brin^, 
Rainbows arch them VTith their win6. 

"Little maiden, now dost know 
How the scarlet berries ^row?" 

Wisest Merlin canst thou tell 
Why their scarlet berries SA^'-ell ? 

"Comes a maid with ruby lips, 
Rose=leaf palms and fin^er=tips, 

"Pushes sheeny leaves apart 
Hiding berries' blood=red heart! 

"Little maiden, no"w canst tell 
Why their scarlet berries swell?" 



31 ^pvina iftavtnen* 

A stranger minstrel passes on, 
Forsooth. ! lie is a kindly one ; 
His liarp of ^old 
'Neath, mantle fold, 
Is waked to play "vsrith s^weetest art 
By beating of the minstrel's heart. 

On mountain side in vestal ^uise 
'Neath sno-wy robe one sleeping lies; 
She hears in dreams 
The ^ush of streams, 
And turning in her smiling rest 
Shows knotted violets o'er her breast. 

Beside her, kneels the minstrel low, 
Forsooth! he doth more kindly ^row. 
His harp of ^old 
'Neath mantle fold, 
Is waked to play ^vith sweetest art 
By beating of the minstrel's heart. 



My task is liard=— as liard as one 
Eurystlieus ^ave of old==-= 

Yet I must dare tlie fiercest seas 
And brin^ th.e fruit of ^old. 

Tlie dragon lives to ^uard th.e ^ate 
Of Hesper's orcliard fair; 

And hardest fate! I do not kno\v 
Wliat way its portals are. 

* 

No ni^lit of rest may e'er be mine 
Nor day of languid ease, 

•Till I sball brin^ tli.e fruit I seek 
From far Hesperides. 

"With, dragons fierce I must contend, 
"With, storms on land and sea, 

With, all I hate or fear or dread 
Must I in conflict be ! 

Yet all exulting to the task 

I cross an unkno^vn sea, 
E'en Ladon -will I force to ^ive 
go The guarded fruit to me. 



^/hc <&olhexx fleece* 

O'er rtiornin^'s azure liills of peace 
Rove cloudy flocks Avitli snowy fleece ; 

By slieplierd wind th.e slieep are sent 
Across tlie etliery orient. 

In coming tliro' tlie ^ates of day, 
The rising tides dash, golden spray 

O'er azure hills and ardent stars, 

And fleck the white anoon's silver bars; 

The waves of ^lory onward s-weep 

To cloudy flocks of snoAv v/hite sheep.- 

One sought of old the golden fleece ;=== 
I find it on these hills of peace. 



A roving lover is the Breeze 

Awooin^ all my blooming trees, 

And like some other lovers here, 

He woos the beauty that is near! 

But yester morn he filled my rooms g/ 



Qa LEGEND OF ABRAHA.\f AND JUS GUEST. 

With. wreath-S of snov^y clierry blooms, 
Ere ni^ht tlie bluslain^ apple bou^lis 
Confessed bis kisses and bis vows ; 
To=day tbe peacb bas cbeeks aflame, 
And trembles when he si^bs her name 
Ere ni^ht tbe fickle, faithless Breeze 
Will sin^ and si^b in other trees. 

A moral's in my little son^ ! 

I prytbee, do not read it wron^. 



At tbe door of Abraham's tent 
Stood a stranger old and bent, 
Craved to lay his staff aside 
And 'till tbe morrow there abide ; = 
Forth the patriarch came with baste, 
Fullest welcome ^ave his ^uest; 
Brought cool \vater for his feet, 
And a kid most tender, sweet. 
From his herd be ordered dressed 
As a supper for his ^uest; 
This \vith cakes and milk be spread, 
And beside tbe meat and bread 
Laid fair clusters of the vine — 
Globes of Ecbol's purple -wine, 



LEGEND OF ABRAHAM AND HIS GUEST. qs 

Such as Israel's spies since found 
On tlie patriarch's vineyard ground. 

Turned the old man to his food, 
But by neither look nor word 
Gave he token that he knev,'' 
Unto vvrhom all thanks are due. 
Pause and honor thou thy God!" 
Came the patriarch's hasty v/ord. 
But the stranger ^ray and old 
Answered with defiance bold : 
Unto me no ^od is kno^vn 
Save the ^od of fire alone." 

Abraham then in v/rath and mi6ht 
Drove the old man from his si^ht. 

Scarce beyond fair ]\Iamre's oak 
Passed the stranger, ere there spoke 
Other Voice at Abraham's side : 
Where no\v doth thy ^uest abide ? " 
Bowed the patriarch vrith his face 
To the ground, for all the place 
Shone with li^ht beyond the ray 
Of the sun in fullest day ; 
From his lips low answer came, 
Since he honored not Thy Name, 
Lord, I drove him from my door." 
Gently spoke the Voice once more: 



^4 ROBINS. 

"Lo! tliese hundred yea,ra I've borne 
All h.is folly, all Ms scorn, 
Couldst not thou but ^ivo hinx rost 
For one ni^ht?-'-He "was thy guest." 

Humbly then the patriarch went, 
Led a^ain into his tent 
Him, Avho, bent and ^ray and old 
Trembled in the storm and cold ; 
Gave from fullest stores the best, 
With a blessing to his ^uest. 



^0Uin«. 



When the earth from slumber wakens 
At the soft kiss of the spring. 

Homeward haste the happy robins 
From their foreign ^winterin^ ; 

Seek a^ain the tiny houses 

Where their last year's loves were spent. 
Find them full of dry leaves drifted, 

And their smooth avails marred and rent 

Yet they grieve not o'er their losses, 
But v^ith s\veet talk never stilled, 

Search the buddin6 ^voods and orchards 
For new haunts -where love may build ; — • 



ROB IKS. 95 

There they hear the happy whispers 
Of the youn^ leaves hid HjV^a^Yi 

Hear them as they wako a little, 
Asking of the coming May ! 

Uobins know the pleasant stories 

That the Ajjril rain-drojjs tell, 
Thrilling with their gentle touches 

All the wild flowers of the dell; 

First are they to see the violets 

Pushing folded leaves ajjart, 
With their blue eyes peering upward — 

Modest blooms so sw^eet of heart! 

First to see the harebells s\vin^in^=— 

Fair as robin's e^^ in hue — 
And to hear their clappers rin^in^ 

For the banquets of the dew ; — 

In old orchards fair and fragrant 
With their "wreath of mimic snow 

Lightly wreathing gnarled branches, 
Drifting on the ground beloMr, 

Find they nooks of sun and shadow, 
Where their "weary "wln^s may rest, 

Where their birdish loves are spoken, 
And they brood o'er happy nest, 



96 ROBINS. 

O tlie pleasure of the sprin^=tim.e, 
Full of Avild birds' loving lore ! 

tlie 61adness of tlie summer 

With, its svv/'eet -work brimming e'er! 

the joy of first beholding 

Dainty wee things in the nest, 

And of feeling youn^lin^s quiver 
Close against the mother=breast ! 

the earth's s\veet \srealth in rearing 
Darling nestful youn^ and fair 

And of teaching ^vin^s to ^vinno^v 
Summer's blue and ample air! 

Happy robins, do I wonder 

At the first breath of the spring, 

Ye so joyous, home^ward hasten 
From your foreign ^vinterin^? 



Do-wn in inarsh.es cool and dank, 
'Mid th-ick grasses tall and rank, 
Wliere tlie deepest sliado^vs sleep, 
And tlie silent sunbeams creep, 
Waving ^vorlds of beauty lie 
Hidden from, tbe careless eye ; 

All day lon^ tlie morning clings 
'Round tbeir cooling ^vater springs; 
Slightest breezes sbake tlie dew 
Into mists of rainbov^ liue, 
Dropping diamonds on tbe strings 
That the busy spider SAvin^s ; 

In the mosses soft and sweet 
Starry blossoms hide their feet. 
Spill their honey for the bees, 
Shake their fragrance to the breeze, 
Give a brightness to the ^rass, 
ISTod to all the winds that pass;== 

There the pitcher plant is set, 

And the "water violet; 

There the willov^r's crimson stems 

Spiln^=tiine th?:eads -with silver ^ems, 



q8 enchanted ground, 

"Wliile th.e summer's ardent rays 
Fire tlie ^rass with, lilies' blaze. 

Cowslips, Avith. tlieir disks of ^old, 
Prank the marsh.es' velvet fold, 
And osmunda 'waves her plumes 
O'er the nymphaea's queenly blooms 
Pimpernel and sedges fair 
Mingle with the orchid's hair : 

From "White buds — like silver beads = 
Han^in^ thick amon^ the reeds, 
Upward to the lark that sin^s 
By the ^ushin^ water springs, 
All the marshes' heart is full 
Of the gospel = Beautiful. 



Ye v;rho -weary v/ith the load 
Borne upon life's dusty road, 

Think ye that no fairies dwell 
On the mountain, in the dell? 

Then your lessons ne'er were found 
Upon ea-rth's enchanted ground; 



ENCHANTED GROUND. 

Ye have read stern reason's book, 
Not from tree and cloud and brook; 

Ye liad learned far sweeter tilings 
From th.e woods and water=sprin^s. 



When of fashion's cant I tire, 
And of wise men's words of fire, 

Then to fairy folk I flee, 
Childhood's faith my sesame, 

Rarest secrets do they tell 
Of our sweet earth's miracle; 

To her heart they lean so neai- 
Her unspoken thoughts they hear; 

Hear her to her nurselings sin^ 
Loving lullabies of spring, 

See her wrap their feet from cold 
'Neath her mantle's fleecy fold; = 

Ere a seed from darkness springs, 
Or a flower unfolds its win^s. 

Ev'ry garden lies apart 

In the dreamland of her heart,— 



Qd 



ENCHANTED GROUND. 

Fairies see h.er teach. th.e vine 
How its slender stem sliall t^vine, 

How to ^rasp th.e oak tliat stands 
Reacliin^ do^vnward helping hands; 

They can tell the partridge's tune, 
How to lau^h back to the loon; 

Why the wild ducks -when they fly 
Write Greek deltsi on the sky; 

Why the ice on ^vinter eves 
Mimics f louvers and frouded leaves; 

They can teach us where to find 
All the music of the wind; 

Who doth tune the pine's harp=strin^ 
Where Pan's fluted reed still sin^s; 

How the wood=birds learn their lore, 
What the son^ the sky=larks pour 

From the bosom of the cloud— = 
Music- flooded, rapture-bo^ved ! 

Busy is each elf and sprite 
Sunny day and clouded ni^ht; 

Hast ne'er seen them ^uide the bees 
TJnto honey-laden trees? 



ENCHANTED GROUND. 

Seen tliem push, tlie leaves apart 
'Till "warm snnsliine kissed th.e lieart 

Of -wild strawberry cliill and pale 
'Neath, the grasses' heavy veil? 

Their bro^vn hands it is that spread 
Autnran leaves of ^old and red 

O'er the violet's tender head, 
O'er the queenly iris' bed.— 

Fragrant fern and e^lantare 
Witli the ^vavin^ rQaiden=hair ; 

Deck the fairies' banquet hall, 
While the trvinklin^ Vv^ater=fall 

With its tambourine doth fill 
Pauses of the ^vhip=poor=^vill. =— 

Ye Avho -weary with the load 
Borne upon life's dusty road, 

Seek the • child "whose days are spent 
'Neath the forest's sun=flecked tent, 

He "Will tell you "with delight 
Where the fairies meet to=ni^ht. 

Feasting with them in the ^len 
Ye shall find your youth a^ain. 



L 

Elin^ Frost came down from tlae jSTorth. Countree, 
Seeking a bride of lii61i decree. 

//. 
Armor he ^^ore of a silver slieen, 
And diamond stars on lais breast ^^^ere seen ; 

He came in baste for bis steeds were fleet, 
But bis beart outran tbeir flying feet; 

/v. 
And near tbe close of an autumn day 
He paused wbere 6ardens in ,^lory lay; 

I'. 
A stainless lily in satin dress 
Stood fair and lone in ber saintliness; 

r/. 
He passed ber by, " Sbe is wbite," said be, 
"As maidens are in tbe ISTortb Countree!" 

V/L 

Tbe lily drooped at bis word of scorn, 
No fairer kni^bt bad sbe looked upon. 

VI/l. 

He paused not vv^bere tbe lady=in-mist 
By prince's featber was li^btly kissed, 



KING FROST'S WOOING OF THE ROSE. 103 

IX. 
Scarce glanced at poppies nodding and tall, 
But liastened on to a trellised wall 

X. 
Wliere bluslied a rose, and lier breath, ^vas balm, 
Her velvet cbeek \vitli its beauty -warm ; 

XI. 
Tbe frost kin^ ^vbispered "Be mine, sweet rose!" 
Wbat lier lips ans^vered nobody knows; 

XII. 

Tbo' in tlie annals of floAvery lore 
'Tis written, tbe rose \vas seen no more.— 

xi/f. 
By trellised "wall, on "windo^v pane, 
Tbe morn sbowed pictures of vravin^ ^rain, 

x/y. 
Of Alpine vales and an edelweiss, 
Of drifting sno^vs and a field of ice; 

XF. 

Of vessels sailing o'er ■wind=swept seas, ■=— 
But fairer tban all and over these 

xr/. 
Was traced =-= a knight Avith a silver crest 
Who bore a rose away on his breast. 



*"Tis tlie first of Nisan, Racliel, 

And at dsbwn, SAveet ^vife, dost kno-w, 
If the God of Israel Avilleth., 
I ^o to tlie plains to sow." 

Tlien tlie ^ood v^'^ife ansvs^ered gently, 
With, a toucli of Hebrew pride, 

While her voice -was sweet as fountains 
Unto Joseph at her side : 

"May the God of Israel bless thee, 
Give to thee an hundred fold. 
Making all the plain at harvest 
Like a sea of rippling ^old. 

"Thou art ri^ht, oh, my beloved. 
For the v/inter's chilling blast, 
And the flooding rains of sprin^=time 
Like a fleeting dream are past; 

"When the early morning breaketh 
And the shadov^s flee away, 
I vdll -with thee to the palm trees; — 
Lack of thee brings ^veary day ! 



''BEHOLD A SOWER WENT FORTH TO SOWy tog 

"May th.e Lord of liarvest send th.ee 
Gentle dews from Hermon's crov^rn, 
Let th.e sun=slio\vers' ^old betoken 
Ricliest liarvest for tliine o^wn. 

"And, beloved, son of Israel, 

Let US trust and ^vork so well 
Tliat, perobance, our God may sboAv us 
Him of wbom tbe propbets tell! " 



On tbe plain tbe son of Israel 

Solved tbe seed to left, to ri^bt, 

Tbinkin^ less of golden barvest 

Tban of propbet's Avords of m.i^bt. 



Lo ! anear tbe faitbful sovv^er 
Noting every ^rain of ^old, 

Spake Tbe One VT-bom. Israel waited, 
He by propbets lon^ foretold. 



Mirrored fair, Lord Leon's bride 
Lingers at th.e fountain's side ; 
Crystal diamonds linked ^vith. pearls 
Han^ amon^ lier lieavy curls; 

Lady Claude is very fair 
Wlien no jeAvels bind lier liair, 
But lier diamonds are th.e pride 
Of tlie lordly Leon's bride. 

Let tlie dewy grasses sliake 
For tbis hau^lity lady's sake, 
Let ber see v/bat -wealtb of ^ems 
Deck tbe grasses' slender stems ! 

Lady Claude is queenly fair 
CroAvned ^vitb Avefts of sunny bair. 
Flo\vin6 do\vn from bro^v to knee=— 
Wavelets of a golden sea!-— 

From, tby quiver, mi^bty sun, 
Let tby sbinin^ arrows run, 
Let tliem lie on -wood and "SArold 
tob Like a ^leamin^ croAvn of ^old; 



CALEND' ULA S. jof 

Let ns see -wliose wealth, is greatest, 
Which, of these shall ^leam the latest. 

All thy ^old, O sun, is bri6ht, 
But the lady's locks are ^^rhite. 



®alcnX»ula«r, 



" So called because they are in Jlovjer during (lie calejids of each month 
■that is, during- Cicry month in the year.^' 

ISTot sheeny cups of malachite 

Uplifted to the sun, 
Nor slender urns of lilies -white 
Can match my peerless one. 
I know a blossom thou shouldst see, 
The starry flcwer of constancy. 

Calend'ulas with golden ray 

My love doth wear in troth=knot ^ay; 

She makes December fair as May! 

One calls the rose his flower of love, 

The pansy is for thought; 
The minstrel \vinds that ^aily rove 
Can have the rose for nought. 
And royal pansies will not stay 
In days of darkened destiny. 



/oS ROr AND THE FAIRIES. 

Calend'ulas -with, golden ray 
My lady "wears in love=knot ^ay, 
Sh.e raakes December fair as May ! 

Wh.en disappointments darken life, 

And "winds ^row v/inter-oold, 
My miser lieart turns from tlie strife 
To love's iinclian^in^ ^old; 
Dark sliado^vs flee wlien once I see 
My priceless flower of constancy. 

Calend'ulas, tliro' darkest day 

My love doth, ^vear in trotli=knot ^ay ; 

Slie makes December fair as May. 



^ay CkvCtf the ,^atrie». 

Is it true tbat tliere are fairies?" 
Whispered Roy one summer day, 

When the lilies and the lupines 

Danced and nodded in their play; 

And the mother answered softly, 
With a far off dreamy look 

As if reading from her childhood, 
And the s^veet -world's fairy book : 



ROl' AND THE FAIRIES. tOQ 

"Look, my Roy, into tlie rosebud 
Wliere its fairest damask parts, 
Something very SAveet is liidden 
In its secret heart of hearts ; 

**Go amon^ the bending grasses 

"While the trembling deAV=drops clin^, 
Peer into the mornin^=^lories 

Where their purple trumpets swin^ ; 

"See which 'way the ferns are bowing, 
Bending as if queens swept by; 
Take your nap on mossy pillows 
'ISTeath the blue tent of the sky ; 

"Linger oft'nest ^vhere the brooklet 

Glides and flints 'neath branches 6reen, 
Come and tell me in the ^loamin^ 

All the s^veet things you have seen." 

Roy is learning happy lessons, 

And his eyes grow 'wonder=wide. 

As he listens in the forest 
To the voices at his side; 

What he finds in rock and runlet. 

What he learns from faun and elf ■= 

Hidden secrets of the wild=wood== 
He will tell one day himself, 



All day long tlie poet sin^s 
To a lyre vsrith. silver strings ; 
In Ills soul lie nightly liears 
Music of tlie starry spheres, 
Listens to tlie rytlim low 
Tinted clouds make in tlieir flow. 

Forests with, their waving hair 
Lure him from a "vv^orld of care ; 
There, 'neath shady baldachin, 
Sees he spiders v^eave and spin 
Threads of silver, "webs of mist, 
De^vy=jeweled, sunshine kissed, 
Fittest vroof to be the v^ear 
Of the poet's child of air ! 

He can read tlie faint designs 
Mosses write upon the pines. 
Or with lover's heart disclose 
Vedas of each floAver tliat 6rows. 
'ISTeath the evening's veil of mist 
Hears he rose by deA\^=drop kissed. 
And the hours of midnight tolled 
By the lily's bell of ^old. 



THE POET. 

Nature owns tlie poet" s lieart, 
Kno^vs it is of lier a part; 
Unto liim. sh.e opes lier store, 
Sh-ows liim all h.er mystic lore ; 
For liis joy slie drops at ni^lit 
Ruby red and clirysolite; 
In tlie morning spreads anew 
Tints of every name and hue ! 

East and -west and soutli and north., 
Through all lands she leads him forth 
Treading lofty mountain roads, 
Wears he purple like the ^ods, 
And in vales v^here waters sin^ 
Laughs he v^ith the river kin^ ; =■ 

Every morn she lifts the haze 
From more opal=tinted days, 
Each tomorrow leads him thro* 
S^veeter valleys than he knew ; 
And the son^s he sin^s the best 
Are those borrowed from her breast. 



Merry rtiaidens count tlieir je^wels, 
Hold tliera upvT'ard sunsliine=kissed, 

ISTarae tliera as tliey drop tliem slo^vly, 
"Fiery opal, ainetliyst, 

" Jasper=stone and burning ruby, 

Bride=like pearl, clialcedony ; " =■ 
So tbe maidens count tlieir jevirels ; =- 
Only == only one bave I! 

But my je-wel makes me ricber 

Tban tbe Sind v/bose marble floor 

He bad piled -witb ^old and jevv^els 
From its casement to its door. 

Once a prince came proudly riding 
On a royal red=roan steed, 
■'Ne'er drew rein so kindly rider!" 
Said my beart in very deed. 

Tbou^b a royal minstrel, musing, 
By bis zitbern, seek to tell 

All tbe kni6bt=bood of tbat rider, 
It "were past bis miracle ! ==- 



SWEET- FERX. 

Heart ! I could not still tliy fleetness, 
And a ^lory swept the place ; 

Was it but tlie sun at noon=day 
Or tlie love=li^lit in h.is face? 

On my liand liis je\vel fitted 

Makes me lieart and brow a queen; 

Like a steadfast star it sbinetli 
Earthly sliadov^in^s between. 



tt3 



^nftei'^evn* 



Bit of courage ! never daunted 
Tbou^h. in rocky meadow planted 

Dravv^in^ strength, from granite stone ! 
Gladly ^rov^ in barren places, 
Tliou liast by tby simple graces 

Made tbe rou^h. rock like a tbrone. 

Every breeze tbat bas caressed tliee, 
Every garment's bem tbat pressed tbee 

Tbou bast filled Avitb fragrances. 
Sweet inspirer, propbet, preacber! 
Tbou art dew=anointed teacber 

From tbe beavenly distances. 



n4 SWEET-FERN, 

May I too lend gentle graces 

To life's liard and barren places. 

To each, soul tliat touclies mine 
Be ne"W liope and courage ^iven, • 
Help to see, tlirou^h. clouds a=riven, 

Li^lits alon^ tlie liarbor line. 




LICHENS 

From Life's Ledges. 



Hoary licliens creep and clin^ 
To tlie rou^li lip of th.e spring, 
Catcliiii^ in tlieir cups of ^ray 
Misty drops of silver spray. 

Mimic goblets ^ray and v^liite, 
As if ^ro^vn in pale moonli^lit, 
Are ye beakers frosted fine, 
Deftly carved viritli quaint design = 
Beakers for tbe folk tliat dwell 
In tbe sliadoAV=tented dell? 



Tlie mountain wears upon its breast 
Tbe faitliful licliens' silver crest ; 
Wlien Vv^inds are rou^li and storms assail 
They firmer clin^ nor droop nor quail. 

Pleart ! tbou v/ilt like tlie licliens prove 
Unf lincliin^ ? Tliey tliy type of love? 



ZX6 



Aslien pale leaves, 
Fasliioned frail leaves 
From tlie sad Getlisertiane ! 
How ^rew ye leaves? Wh.at knew" ye leaves 
Of the Passion's mystery, 
Of my Master's a^ony? 
What bloody sweat 
On Olivet, 
Dre"w ye with, ichor from your tree? 
Ashen pale leaves, 
Broken frail leaves, 
For your sorrow fell ye 
In the sad Gethsemane? 



®h« ^iaine* 



I brin^ my statue 
Into the public square 
Where all the torches ^lare ; 

Their fathered li^ht 
Shall prove my ^vork, 

If it be ri^ht, ^7 



®h0 Wraith of tlje Uixtcv* 

Art thou tlie Avraith. of tlie dead, 0! tliou mist? 

Of th.e river in falling slain? 
Tlius doth, the sonl of the Abater released 

To the heavens return a^ain? 



^\je ^hvine* 



I came upon sweet Nature's shrine, 
The VTlnds her vespers sun^. 

Upon a rose=tree's cro^vn of thorn 
Her beads of prayer -were hun^. 



Carved cups of alabaster 

Sealed thro' all the li^ht, 

Broken in the hush of even 
To anoint the feet of Ni^ht! 



^eeMn& the '^vooh* 

I heard a son^ in treble sweet, 
Like rythmic beat of fairy feet 
Atrippin^ over silver sand 
u8 "Within a flower=embroidered land 



THE BROOK. >tQ 



I follo-wed ^vliere tlie soft son^ led 
By slender leasli=~a silver tliread — 
'Till in tlie osier=curtained nook 
I met tlie blue eyes of tlie brook. 



@;h« ^roult. 



Tlie little brook it was so fair, 
Its prattle v/as so sweet to liear, 

With. lieart>o'erflow 

It lau^lied so lov^, 
I longed to take up in my arms 
Tbe little brook witli all its cliarms 

And carry it forever tbere. 



Sometimes tlie world lias a ru^^ed patb 
And we toil till our feet are pained, 

And our liearts ^ro^w faint as Ave stand at ni^lit 
And mourn tliat no more is gained. 

But dawns at last a glorious morn, 

Or descends a star=^irt ni^lit, 
Wlien a^ved, Ave stand on tlie farthest hill 

With the home of our souls in si^ht. 



^Ije (Sixteen, 1», ^» 

The Lord liath. crowned lier "womanliood 

With, coronation holy, 
Th' anointing oil of ^rief hath made 

Her kin unto the lowly. 



®ij« ^ltt» ^ivh4 



Beautiful bluebird, where were you born? 
"In a cloudy nest in the azure dawn." 

Where learned your sweet and silvery note? 
"From, the ripple of clouds that over us float.' 

Why came from your cloudy bluebell nest? 
"To drop a new melody into your breast." 



®ne gt^ttr Si«at», 

One lieth dead since yester^morn 

Who lon^ had borne the scorn of scorn; 

The hate of hate had been his bread; 
720 But for sweet love he lieth dead. 



I stand in awe and wonder mucli 
At tliis MYSELF I do not know. 

It oft eludes my power to liold 
And wanders wliere I cannot ^o. 

Witli folded eyes I lie at ni61i.t 

And sleep in imagery of death, 
Yet restless glides tlie strange MYSELF 

Throu^li realms where mortal ne'er drew breath. 

I turn with fear I cannot still 

From this mysterious self of mine 

To Him -who Avrou^ht and still controls 
The mystery so near divine. 



^n the ^e»evt mill tir« ^a^ of ai« $ij<»n>ln0 
ICnta ^^vaeL" 

He ^^rtLO opens royal hi^hvv^ay 
For the coming feet of Truth, 
Shrove hath kept in w^ildernesses, 
"With the bread of man's distresses 
And the soulful cup of ruth. 



Not flaming svv^ord nor clierubim 

Could liinder Nature's son^ and story 
With, lieart attuned in Eden's ^lory 

Slie followed man to comfort him. 



Do^vn amon^ the tangled grasses 
Found I Summer lyin^ dead, 

Shrouded in the leaves of Autumn, 
Faded garlands round her head. 

While I kneeling ^azed upon her, 
Si^hin^ for her vanished ^race, 

Lon^in^ for her rippling laughter, 
Winter's white beard hid her face. 



The one who builds the poorest 
Has need to toil the more. 

For him -whom naught can conquer 
The ^if t is at the door. 



$0v ^e ^lan«. 

He made tlie desert dry and th.e bosky wood, 
Tlie mountain's h.ei^h.t and tlie river's road, 
Tlie th-orny track, and tlie mossy Vv^ay, 
Tlie fire by ni^bt and tbe cloud by day;— 
Tbey all shall be ^vlien I am ^one, 
Yet eacb ^vas made for me alone. 



**^0l ^ ant iJaB*" 

Lon^, sad and dark ber ni^bt of pain batb been ; 

All ber eartb=life sbe liatb known no otber. 
Deatb came, and simply said, " Lo ! I am Day," 

Sweetly spoke, and lo^v, as nursing motber. 



Tbe sun==a cup of ^old== 

Tbe band of day dotb bold ; 

It is a stirrup=cup 

Sbe trembling, boldetb up. 

Witb cold ^ray lip 

Its wine dotb sip ; 
Tbe blood=red wine from stirrup=cup 
Is sbaken as sbe bolds it up ; 
It stains tbe cloud, tbe mount, tbe lea. 
Sinks tbe cup into tbe sea. /s^ 



By hands unseen, li^lit scarfs of mist 
Are lifted from tlie running rills 
Tliat •wind about tlie w^akin^ hills 

Like necklaces of ametliyst. 



Once upon a time a walnut tree prayed that it might bear lilies.''^ ■••Fable 

Anguish, tlirills tlie listening wood 
As tlie cutter's ax rin^s out; 

'Tis tlie trees' beatitude, 

Falls tlie -walnut -with, a shout! 



Subtle skill the carver holds 

As he chisels ni^ht and morn, = 

Lo! from out the "w^ood's dark folds 
Royal lilies have been born. 



$£at»e«. 



Leaves are the little children 
The mother=tree doth keep ; 
"When summer's day is ended 
124. They lay them down to sleep. 



My magi brou^lit me o2:>als. 

Tliey are frozen tears, I said, 

Tears Eve in Eden shed ! 

A luster from lier shining eyes. 

The rQoon=li^ht flooding para.dise, 
Impiisoned lie in opals! 



^ntitice. 



Very true the balance v/ei^heth — 
Tho' its "wei^hin^ be not fast, 

Brows that life to crowns has shajDen 
They shall vi^ear their crowns at last. 



A. B. D. 

She brought me comfort that sad day. 

I called her "friend" in simple ^vay, 

ISTor knew her an^el sweet and wise 

Because she stood in human ^uise.=-= 

Alas! that -we should be so slov.- 

The angels at our side to know^. 12^ 



®»tttttnbrt jaegitU*. 

Royal Osmunda, lissom and fair 
With, tresses li^lit as a maiden's are, 
And breath, as sweet as from rosy lips, 
Tell me, Osmunda, \\^ho sips, Avho sips? 

Were I the wind that arovin^ ^oes, 

I'd find the nook where the Osmund ^lov/s 

And dwell with her in a vale apart 

Or bear Osmunda aw^ay on my heart. 



girt* 

That is Art =- the truest art— 
Which is ITature's counterpart, 
Sho\\rin^ in a younger face 
Imaged fair the mother's ^race. 



®lj« ^eck* 



Runs the beck with laughter wild, 
Leaping cliffs like gayest child. 



On the cold breast of the rocks 
i3(f Lie its thin and vv^hitened locks. 



Art thou queen of fairy-liood, 

Or a -woman rare 
Wh-ose sweet spirit's inner mood 

Maketh. ^ro-w so fair? 



©Jjy $Hie»» 



Kno-w tliou — tlie dark, tlie cliill, tlie frost, 
None are upon th.y garden lost. 



Th.y bovver with.out these ministries 
Must lack its fair virginities. 



12? 



